Bhubaneswar, Dec 21 (FN Bureau) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday inaugurated four irrigation projects worth Rs 3160 crore and dedicated Baitarani left canal of Anandpur barrage project and the Haladia dam. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for the Rs 2338 crore second phase of Subarnarekha irrigation project and for the Khairi Bhandan barrage. These two projects will irrigate 47,000 hectares of land and the farmers of Mayurbhanja,Keonjhar and Balasore will be benefitted by it. The 28 km long Baitarani left canal has joined the Baitarani with Salanadi river. It will provide irrigation facilities to 1,08,771 hectares of land including 2221 hectares of Hatadihi and Anantapur. Blocks of Keonjhar district and 56,550 hectares of land in, seven blocks of Balasore district. Similarly, the Haladia dam, a part of Subarnarekha irrigation project will provide irrigation facilities to an additional 5520 hectares of land.
Till now 62,480 hecatres of land is being irrigated through the dam. After implementation of the second phase of Subarnarekha irrigation project 39,694 hectares of land in Balasore and Mayurbhanja will get irrigation facilities. On this occasion, the Chief Minister said his government is marching ahead with the farmers. Farmers are the charioteer of the economy and ‘’ I am always with the farmers and working for them. Patnaik said welfare of farmers and development of agriculture Has alaways been his priority. He said he is meeting farmers from different parts of the state every day. He said he is very happy to learn that the schemes launched for the farmers are working well.. The Chief Minister said farmers are well connected with various developmental and welfare programmes . In the Mission Shakti programme maximum number women of the farmers family are involved. Frmrers will get the maximum benefit from the LAccMI and Laxmi Yojana, he said.